What Programs Does the Design Department Offer?

Navigating Design Department Classes

There are many avenues you can take when navigating through the Design Department classes. You could specialize or just take the core classes to get a design degree. This section is designed to help you navigate the ins and outs of the courses we offer. We hope it makes planning and registering for classes a little easier.

Starting PointExample Of DegreeCertificates

Areas to SpecializeSign Up For Classes

Starting Point

The foundation for beginning your journey as a visual designer and communicator.

  • Drawing for Communications (DESN 100)
  • Visual Thinking (DESN 200)
  • Digital Foundations (DESN 216)

Continuing to build on this foundation, students usually take:

  • Global Histories of Design (DESN 359; formerly History of Design, DESN 259)
  • Typography 1 (DESN 243)
  • Design 1 (DESN 263)

Your advisor will work with you each quarter to help plan your class schedule. We recommend you look at the course catalog, degree audit, and course schedule before meeting with your advisor. Draft a proposed schedule in Navigate, then talk with your advisor to make sure you did not miss anything important. Remember, professors have a lot going on—especially during enrollment periods. We encourage you to meet with your advisor early and often.

Example Schedule

This a sample VCD degree plan. you can use it as a starting point to create your own schedule. There is room for electives and to specialize. However, meet with your adviser to make sure your plan isn’t missing anything.

YearFallWinterSpring
JuniorDigital Foundations
History of Design
Drawing for Communication
Visual Communication
Elective
Visual Thinking
Production Design
Visual Communications 2
Elective
Typography
Digital Photography
Visual Communications 3
SeniorProfessional Practice
Digital Foundations
User Experience Design
Web Design
Elective
Elective
Portfolio
DESN Adv Media
Elective
Elective
Portfolio
Senior Capstone

Degree Options

Visual Communication Design (BDes)

Whether you want to design logos, posters, websites, motion graphics, illustrations, or something else, the Bachelor of Design (BDes) program will help you build the skills you need to succeed. You’ll explore many different types of design, work closely with faculty members and learn from your fellow students.

Curriculum

Design
(Minor)

You’ll learn how to present your ideas visually as you get hands-on experience as you practice working with images and text together to create and share messages. In addition, you’ll learn how to use digital tools like the Adobe Creative Cloud apps.

Curriculum

Animation & Motion Design (Certificate)

Learn industry-standard technologies, including stop motion, 2D/3D animation software, and sound design software. These courses cover animation principles and techniques, storytelling, storyboarding, and animatics. With this certificate, you’ll be prepared to effectively communicate ideas and create engaging narratives using space, time and motion.

Curriculum

Front-end Web Design (Certificate)

Develop skills in creating engaging user interactions using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The certificate covers modern web technologies, methodologies, software, and devices. It’s a valuable program for all digitally-focused design professionals.

Curriculum

Photographic Media (Certificate)

Develop both technical and conceptual skills with courses selected from the Art and Design departments. This multidisciplinary curriculum will help you build creative and professional skills, like camera operation, digital editing workflow, lighting, portfolio preparation, image presentation/exhibition and theory.

Curriculum

User Experience Design (Certificate)

You’ll learn how to create user-friendly digital experiences. You’ll get hands-on experience as you solve real-world design problems, receive feedback and improve your designs. The UX Certificate can be earned alongside the Bachelor of Design degree, or on its own.

Curriculum

Areas To Specialize

The VCD degree is a fairly general start to your design journey. However, you can tailor the degree to fit your interests and career goals. You will work with your faculty advisor to choose classes to fulfill degree requirements and electives while also building specialized skills in a design area you are interested in.

If you are interested in declaring a double major or minoring in a subject related to design, consider the following options. Then talk with your design advisor about how a minor or second major can help you reach your career goals. Below is a list of options that complement a design degree well.

 

Marketing

A marketing degree can be a great option for developing design skills related to marketing. This degree can help you understand where your design will go and how they will be used after you finalize them.

 

Animation & Motion Design

Motion designers and animators create graphics for the web, television, or film. Projects they might work on include movie clips, trailers, commercials, or title sequences.

 

Psychology

Psychology is a great option to study along with design, as in the design field there is a lot of overlap with interpreting how your audience will respond to a design. The visual information processing and cognition classes would be extra beneficial.

 

Web Design

Web designers plan, create, and code internet sites and web pages. They combine text, pictures, sounds, graphics, and video clips to create fun and engaging experiences for users.

 

Communications Studies

Communication is a key skill for any field. A communications degree will help you gain organization and communication skills that will serve as a key asset throughout your professional career.

Illustration

Illustrators are artists that use their creative skills to create original images for a range of printed and digital products. Projects they might work on include illustrations for children’s books, magazines, or fashion design.

 

Technical Communication

A Technical Communication degree is a great compliment for a design major as it focuses more on readability, textual information design, and understanding how language structure affects and interacts with design decisions.

 

Business/Entrepreneurship

It would be hard for the field of design to exist without business. If you are interested in starting your own design firm or freelancing, this degree would be helpful for you to gain the skills necessary to make your dream a reality.

 

Computer Science

For those more interested in the design and technology, a computer science degree would complement a design degree well and set you apart from the competition.